Second Chances by Bria Marche Read Free Book Online Page A

probably eight hundred fifty square feet, not that big, Abs. You’ve seen it. I pay one thousand fifty dollars a month plus utilities. Why?”
    “Move in with us. It’s the perfect idea. This house has nine bedrooms, for crying out loud. Each of the larger bedrooms has its own private bath, plus there are three other full baths and two powder rooms downstairs. Look how gigantic this house is, and it’s beautiful. All you’d have to do is pay your rent here instead, and kick in for the food. Please say yes. It’s meant to be.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “Yes, I’m totally serious. This is my house now, and I can do whatever I want with it.”
    “Who wants a drink?” Betsy asked with newfound joy in her voice. “We have to make a toast to new beginnings because I know Melanie is going to say yes. She’d be crazy not to.”
    “Okay, you’ve got a deal. Betsy, is there any champagne in the house?”
    “There sure is. Pizza and champagne sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?”
    After dinner and once several flutes of champagne were toasted to Charlotte, the ladies went upstairs to begin the search. Living in a massive mansion with no money wasn’t an option. It would take months, Abby was sure, before her mother’s estate would be settled. For the time being, they had to find cash to live on. Abby’s stash of cash from St. Thomas was almost depleted. After the purchase of the airplane ticket back to the states, she was left with two thousand one hundred dollars to her name.
    The three women searched the entire bedroom. By the time they reached the closet, the suite looked as though the latest hurricane had ripped through with a fury.
    “Nothing yet, damn it. The money must be in the closet. We’ll have to go through everything that has a pocket, and all the shoe boxes, too. Betsy, bring a pitcher of sweet tea up here, please. This closet is going to get stuffy.”
    “Okay, I’ll be right back.” The sound of Betsy’s shoes running down the staircase made Abby laugh. When Charlotte was alive, heaven forbid if the walnut floors got scuffed. Betsy would have had to polish the floor on her hands and knees if Charlotte had ever got wind of something like that. Betsy returned quickly with three glasses and a pitcher of icy sweet tea on a tray. She placed the tray carefully on the night table next to Charlotte’s bed and let out an involuntary sniffle mixed with a tiny sob.
    Abby turned to see Betsy wipe her nose and cheeks with her forearm. “What’s wrong?”
    “A memory, that’s all… I’m sorry.”
    “Tell us about it, please.” Abby and Melanie came out of the closet and sat on the edge of the bed.
    “It’s just going to be so different going forward. Everything I’ve been programmed to do or not do over the last fifteen years will change. I used to bring Miss Charlotte a tray with warm milk and cookies every evening, and I’d set it right here on this table. It makes me sad, that’s all. I guess it’s been a long day.”
    “My mom had her sweet moments, didn’t she?”
    “Yes, she did… but she could really get under my skin, too,” Betsy said with a laugh. “I would be honored to help write the eulogy.”
    “Thanks, I’m counting on it. I really believe you knew her best. Now use that energy and think really hard. Where would my mom put that money?”
    “Well… she was very particular about her shoes and always stored them in the shoe boxes. She was extremely fond of an ugly pair of knee-high boots. I never could figure out why. The box is on the top shelf over here.” Betsy led the women back into the closet and pointed to a large boot box on the far right top shelf. “I never understood why she kept that box up so high if she loved those boots so much. As short as she was, she had to get the step stool out every time she pulled it down.”
    Mel gave Abby an encouraging grin. “Go for it, girl. You’re the tallest one in the bunch.”
    Abby reached as high as she could and caught